We were recently introduced to the Rose & Crown by a friend and alumnus of nearby St. Hugh's College. How glad we are that we were - this place had eluded us when previously holed up in North Oxford, and it's the kind of pub we would all love to have around the corner. The beer was very good (several Adnam's brews, as well as Hook Norton's "Old Hooky"), if a little pricey, and the lunch menu was of the no-nonsense variety. Again, not the cheapest we've ever sampled, but we can vouch for the salt beef sandwiches or the Spanish omelette. The bar itself is old-style, small and well-stocked, just about tatty enough to have charm but smart enough not to be off-putting. Perhaps the most noteworthy feature, however, is external - a most atypical beer garden. We say "atypical" because of the nature of the seating: yellow painted, back-to-back benches, under cover with heaters, we can imagine that it's most pleasant for much of the year. Add to that several intimate seating areas inside, and a number of old-style, reproduction advertisements for household goods, and you have a back-street boozer which exudes an old-fashioned atmosphere. The best we saw in Oxford on our most recent visit.